Merwin Elementary School in Irwindale, CA implemented their Scholastic Reading Counts!® program eight years ago as a result of the efforts of the school’s Title 1 Reading Specialist, Mrs. Donna Estrada. Mrs. Estrada was looking for a program to support reading fluency and comprehension while boosting student motivation to read.

For grades 2 through 5, Merwin’s SRC! Program focuses on setting monthly goals of “words read” for students with incentives that include school-wide recognition and unique prizes. First grade teacher Connie Spolar explains:

Students receive points and set monthly goals (given by their teacher and the Reading Specialist). These goals consist of 50,000 words per month for 4th and 5th grade; 35,000 words per month for 3rd grade; and for at-grade-level 2nd grade readers, 20,000 words per month. They receive points for their quizzes, but they need to meet their words-read goals. If they meet their goal, they get to spin a big prize wheel in the library at the end of the month. They might earn computer game time, extra Scholastic Reading Counts! dollars to spend, or a certificate for a burger or ice cream.

First graders' goals are set for the number of quizzes passed, and might also include increasing the student's Lexile® level. Plus, all students accumulate points that they can spend on merchandise at the schools’ Scholastic Reading Counts! Store event, held every trimester.

Ms. Spolar states that some of the most creative aspects of Merwin’s SRC! program are the motivational elements. She points out that if students meet their goals, they get a super goal. All students meeting super goals or higher get their name announced by the principal in the school’s morning announcement. Ms.Spolar notes, “Having goals to meet is a concrete way to ‘up the ante’ and keep students reading; they like the challenge.”

All teachers set their own themes to visually support SRC! in their classrooms. Ms. Spolar’s theme is “King of the Jungle”, while the library theme is “Wild About Reading” and is decorated to be a fun and pleasant place for students to spend time in.

In describing students’ enthusiasm for reading, Ms. Spolar says:

Our students love to read, and they are so motivated! The library is a busy place each morning and at lunch. Sometimes I see students reading as they walk across the campus, and students can be seen reading outside during recess. My students beg me for reading time.

If you’d like to share your school’s SRC! success, please let us know!